Sylvester Stallone Picks 12 Bikes for "The Expendables" at Bike Week New Orleans

By: MJ Reynolds, editor Bikeweek.com

Posted: May.10.09

New Orleans, LA - Sylvester Stallone chose 10 Bourget bikes, plus bikes
from the Easyriders Show and Cycle Source Chopper Show during Bike Week
New Orleans. The bikes will be ridden by Stallone and cast members Mickey
Rourke, Forest Whitaker, Jason Statham, Jet Le, Dolph Lundgren and other
in the movie, The
Expendables being filmed in New Orleans (after 3 weeks in Brazil.)

The story follows an "expendable" team, hired
to do jobs that no one else can or will, who are sent to infiltrate a
South American country to overthrow the ruthless dictator and liberate
the country.

"I personally choose all of the bikes," said
Stallone, who spent part of Saturday and Sunday talking with Brigitte
Bourget and her builders at G.Smith Motorsports-Bourget Bike Works. The
lot that featured dozens of custom bikes priced upward to $90,000 was
a featured attraction during the first Bike Week New Orleans, May 6 to
10.

Stallone left with a deal to use 10 Bourget bikes in
the movie, along with bikes purchased at the Easyriders Show and the Cycle
Source Chopper Show.

Stallone also checked out a Bourget boxing themed bike.

Stallone toured the event with Larry Oliphant, CEO
of Bike Week LLC and Bike Week New Orleans LLC, who thanked Stallone for
his support. "You really made this event for us," Oliphant told
Stalone.

They share a mutual love of New Orleans. In fact, New
Orleans was hand-picked for state-side filming by its writer/director/star.
"Sly really loves New Orleans," said his publicity director,
Cheryl Main. "This was his choice. And we're really, really excited
to be here and we appreciate the hospitality that's been extended to us."

Arnold Schwarzenegger is also in the film, although
the governor shot his scenes in California . The crew will be shooting
in New Orleans through June. 'The Expendables' is scheduled to be released
on April 23rd, 2010

Many celebrities have rallied to support New Orleans
. "We currently have a thriving film industry in New Orleans ,"
said Frank Stansbury, editor of La Fete entertainment and tourism publication.
"The pilot "Treme" has just been picked up as an HBO series
and there are currently three movies being filmed in New Orleans."

His visit to the first Bike Week being staged in the
1000 block of Convention Center Boulevard came as a surprise to the event's
owners.

"It was exciting," said Oliphant. one
of three partners in Bike Week New Orleans. "This is just the kind
of support we need to draw attention to this new annual event that will
be staged the same time next year, the week after Jazz Fest, May 4th to
9th"